The Advanced Study Institute of Asia (ASIA), in collaboration with the Office of The Controller General Of Patents, Designs And Trade Marks (O/o CGPDTM), Pragya Sansthan , Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP), TiE Patna, Startup Bihar , and the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar, successfully hosted GI Manthan: Strengthening the Makhana Sector on 19 November 2025. The roundtable brought together senior policymakers, institutional leaders, researchers, and industry practitioners to chart a roadmap for one of India’s most culturally significant and economically promising GI products — Mithila Makhana.
The discussion brought together Prof. Unnat P. Pandit (CGPDTM, RoC, GI & SICLD, GoI), Mr Lal Jha , Mr Pawan Kumar, Mr Kamlakant Pathak, Mr Kumod Kumar, Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh LNMI, MDI Alumni , Prof. Sunil Kumar, Mr Manish Anand, Ms Lily Jha, and Ms Shivani Singh, who collectively mapped the evolving landscape of the Mithila Makhana sector. The conversation opened with ASIA’s research overview, highlighting the crop’s deep cultural roots in Mithila, the traditional expertise of the Mallah community, and the momentum created by the 2022 GI recognition and the newly announced National Makhana Board. With Bihar producing nearly 90 per cent of India’s makhana, speakers examined how gaps in mechanisation, uneven farmer incomes, weak certification systems, and fragmented branding shape the sector’s growth. They emphasised the urgent need for a standardised GI logo, stronger traceability and quality assurance, and coordinated institutional support to stabilise markets and improve value distribution. Drawing on export vulnerabilities, tariff shocks, and lessons from basmati and Darjeeling Tea, the panel underscored the importance of building a unified, culturally grounded brand identity for Mithila Makhana—one capable of holding its own in domestic and international markets.
The session concluded with broad agreement that the sector’s future depends on aligned policy action, resilient GI governance, farmer-focused support systems, standardisation and a branding strategy that remains true to Mithila’s heritage while preparing the product for wider global recognition. The event marked a meaningful step toward building a more coordinated, sustainable, and internationally visible ecosystem for Mithila Makhana.
